Automatic cassette loader

Abstract

A machine is provided for automatically loading empty cassettes, each containing a leader, with magnetic tape. The machine is similar in principle to the machine disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. B535,448 wherein sequentially each leader is cut into two sections, one section is sliced to the leading end of a supply tape, a selected length of the supply tape is wound onto the cassette, the supply tape is severed, the trailing end of the supply tape is spliced to the other leader section, and the trailing end of the severed length of supply tape and the other leader section are wound onto the cassette. This invention provides novel means for assuring that the leader is cut into two sections of substantially equal length.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination with a machine for loading a selected supply tape into a cassette which includes a tape leader, said machine having cassette holding means for holding the cassette to be loaded, a splicing block assembly for supporting the leading end of the supply tape and the leader of the cassette to be loaded, leader extractor means movable between said cassette holding means and said splicing block assembly for withdrawing the leader from a cassette held by said cassette holding means and positioning the withdrawn leader on said splicing block assembly, means for operating said leader extractor means, multi-elememt means for sequentially (a) severing a leader that has been positioned on the splicing block assembly into first and second leader sections, (b) splicing said first leader section to the leading end of the supply tape, (c) winding the first leader section and a predetermined length of the supply tape which is connected thereto into the cassette held by the cassette holding means, (d) severing said supply tape at said splicing block assembly so as to form a trailing end for said predetermined length of supply tape, and (e) splicing said trailing end to the second leader section, and means for causing said multi-element means to operate according to sequence (a) through (e) after a leader has been positioned on said splicing block assembly by said leader extractor means, the improvement comprising: leader centering means for acting upon a leader which has been extracted so as to cause the leader to shift lengthwise relative to the splicing block assembly to the extent required for the severing of the leader to be effected substantially at the midpoint of the leader, and means for operating said leader centering means before operation of said multi-element means. 
     
     
       2. In combination with a machine for loading a selected supply tape into a cassette which includes two spools and a tape leader attached at its opposite ends to the two spools, said machine having cassette holding means for holding the cassette to be loaded, a splicing block assembly for supporting the leading end of the supply tape and the leader of the cassette to be loaded, leader extractor means movable relative to said splicing block assembly for withdrawing a leader from a cassette held by said cassette holding means and positioning said same leader on said splicing block assembly, cutting means for severing a supply tape or a leader tape that is supported by said splicing block assembly and extends across a predetermined cutting line, splicing means for splicing an end of the supply tape to an abutting end of a leader tape, drive means for rotating a selected spool of a cassette held by said cassette holding means so that a length of tape connected to a leader attached to said spool may be wound thereon, and means for operating said foregoing means in a predetermined sequence whereby automatically (a) a leader is withdrawn from a cassette held by said cassette holding means and positioned on said splicing block assembly, (b) the cassette leader tape on the splicing block assembly is severed into first and second leader sections, (c) the first leader section is spliced to the leading end of a supply tape supported by said splicing block assembly, (d) the first leader section and a predetermined length of the supply tape which is connected thereto are wound into the cassette held by said cassette holding means, (e) the supply tape is severed at the splicing block assembly so as to form a trailing-end for said predetermined length of supply tape, (f) splicing said trailing-end to the second leader section, (g) removing the second leader section from said splicing block assembly, and (h) removing the cassette from the cassette holding means so that another cassette to be loaded may be received by said cassette holding means, the improvement comprising means for positioning the withdrawn leader so that its midpoint is substantially at said cutting line, whereby that the severing of said leader into said first and second leader sections occurs substantially equidistant from the ends thereof. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means comprises means for releasing the withdrawn leader from the leader extractor means and means for releasably restraining said leader in position on said splicing block assembly. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further including a vacuum chamber for receiving a portion of the withdrawn leader, and means for applying a vacuum to said chamber so as to cause a portion of said leader to be sucked into said chamber after said leader is released by said extractor means. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said leader extractor comprising a finger portion having a cavity for receiving a leader, means for connecting said cavity to a vacuum source so as to create a suction force to act upon a leader in a manner such as to cause it to be sucked into the cavity, and selectively operable means for disconnecting said cavity from said vacuum source in timed relation to application of a vacuum to said chamber so as to release a leader from said cavity and cause it to be sucked into said chamber. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said cassette holding means is spaced from said splicing block assembly and said leader extractor means is mounted for movement to and from said cassette holding means. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said vacuum chamber is located adjacent to said splicing block assembly. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said vacuum chamber has an opening located between said splicing block assembly and said cassette holding means. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said vacuum chamber is fixed relative to said splicing block assembly. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cassette holding means is adapted to hold a cassette in a selected loading station and to release said cassette after it has been loaded with tape, and further including storage means for storing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded and for advancing cassettes one at a time from said storage means to said cassette holding means. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said cassette holding means holds a cassette in a selected plane, and said storage means comprises a magazine for containing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded, said magazine having a discharge opening at its bottom end and being arranged so that the bottommost cassette therein is disposed substantially in said selected plane. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said loading position is located below said discharge opening. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said splicing block assembly is located below and to one side of said magazine, and said leader extractor means is mounted for movement between a first position in which it is located to one side of said splicing block assembly and a second position in which it is located adjacent to a cassette that is held at said loading station. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said leader extractor means comprises a finger portion having a cavity for receiving a leader, means for coupling said cavity to a vacuum source to create a suction force to act upon a leader in a manner such as to cause the leader to be sucked into said cavity and to form a loop conforming in shape to the internal configuration of said cavity, and means supporting said leader extractor means for movement to and from said loading station. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means supporting said leader extractor means comprises at least one rail on which said leader extractor means is slidable. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus according to claim 14 further including means for reciprocating said leader extractor means on said at least one rail. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus according to claim 14 including means for selectively terminating said suction force. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said finger portion is located in the same plane as a cassette located at said loading position. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said storage means for storing a plurality of cassettes to be loaded and for advancing them one at a time to said loading station comprises a magazine for holding a plurality of cassettes to be loaded and cassette guide means for receiving cassettes one at a time from said magazine and guiding them to said cassette holding means. 
     
     
       20. Apparatus according to claim 19 further including means for selectively stopping cassettes from moving from said magazine to said guide means. 
     
     
       21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said guide means are located above said cassette holding means. 
     
     
       22. Apparatus according to claim 21 further including means for advancing cassettes between said pair of guides to said cassette holding means. 
     
     
       23. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said leader extractor means is adapted to move back and forth over said splicing block means. 
     
     
       24. Apparatus according to claim 23 including means for controlling movement of said leader extractor means in timed relation to advancement of a cassette to said loading position. 
     
     
       25. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said splicing block means comprises a stationary block and a movable block, said stationary block having a first guide track for receiving a first portion of said leader, and said movable block having a second guide track for receiving the tape to be loaded and a third guide track for receiving a second portion of said leader, and means for moving said movable block to alternately shift one or the other of said second and third guide tracks into alignment with said first track. 
     
     
       26. Apparatus according to claim 25 including means for selectively applying vacuum to said first, second and third guide tracks. 
     
     
       27. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said leader extractor means is disposed so as to position the extracted leader along said first and second guide tracks when said first and second guide tracks are aligned with one another. 
     
     
       28. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the leader is withdrawn by said leader extractor means as a loop having an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion being positioned on the splicing block assembly, and further including means carried by said splicing block assembly for diverting the upper portion of said loop laterally away from said splicing block assembly so as not to interfere with operation of said splicing means. 
     
     
       29. A machine for loading a selected supply tape into a cassette which includes two spools and a leader tape attached at its ends to the two spools, said machine comprising cassette holding means for releasably holding a cassette to be loaded in a predetermined loading position, means for feeding a cassette to be loaded to said cassette holding means, a splicing block assembly for supporting the leading end of a supply tape and the leader of a cassette held at said loading position, cutting means for cutting along a predetermined cutting line a supply tape or a leader tape that is supported by said splicing block assembly and extends across said predetermined cutting line, leader extractor means mounted for reciprocal movement relative to said splicing block assembly for extracting a leader from a cassette held by said cassette holding means and positioning the withdrawn leader on said splicing block assembly, means for operating said leader extractor means and for causing said leader extractor means to release said leader after it has been positioned on said splicing block assembly, leader repositioning means for acting upon the leader released by said leader extractor means so as to (a) hold said leader on said splicing block assembly and (b) cause said leader to shift lengthwise relative to the splicing block assembly to the extent required to align the midpoint of the leader tape substantially at said cutting line, splicing means for splicing together abutting ends of the leader and supply tapes, drive means for rotating one of the spools of a cassette held at said loading station so as to wind tape onto said spool, and means for operating said foregoing means so that automatically (a) a cassette is fed to said cassette holding means and held in said loading position, (b) the leader is withdrawn from said cassette and positioned on said splicing block assembly, (c) the leader is repositioned on said splicing block assembly, (d) said leader is severed into two sections of substantially equal length, (e) one leader section is spliced to the leading end of the supply tape, (f) a length of supply tape and the one leader section are wound into the cassette onto the spool to which the one leader section is connected, (g) the supply tape is severed so as to form a trailing end for said length of supply tape on said splicing block assembly, (h) the other leader section is spliced to the trailing end of the severed length of supply tape, (i) the other leader section is wound into the cassette, and (j) the cassette containing the length of supply tape is discharged from the loading position and replaced by a new cassette. 
     
     
       30. Method for automatically loading a selected supply tape into cassettes of the type which includes two spools and a leader tape attached at its ends to the two spools, said method comprising the following steps: advancing a first cassette to be loaded from a magazine to a selected loading position, withdrawing the leader from said first cassette by a suction device and moving the suction device with the leader so as to position the withdrawn leader upon a splicing block assembly which is displaced from said loading position, releasing the leader from the suction device and repositioning the leader on the splicing block assembly so that the midpoint of the leader is substantially aligned with a predetermined cutting line, severing the leader along said cutting line into first and second leader sections each supported by said splicing block assembly, attaching said first leader section to the leading end of a supply tape of indefinite length, winding said first leader section and the supply tape attached thereto into said first cassette, terminating winding, severing said supply tape at a selected point so as to form a trailing end for the supply tape wound into said first cassette, splicing said trailing end to the second leader section, winding said trailing end and said second leader section into said first cassette, discharging said first cassette from said loading position and replacing it with a second cassette, and automatically repeating the foregoing steps in order to effect loading of said second cassette.   
     
     
       31. A method according to claim 30 wherein repositioning of the leader involves sucking a portion of the leader into a vacuum chamber. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus for loading a cassette having at least one rotatable spool and a leader attached to the spool with a predetermined length of magnetic tape, characterized by means for releasably holding a cassette to be loaded in a selected loading position, leader and tape splicing means including a splicing block assembly spaced from said selected loading position for supporting a portion of the tape to be loaded and the leader of a cassette located at said selected loading position, leader extractor means movable relative to said splicing block assembly and said cassette holding means for withdrawing the leader from a cassette located at said selected loading position and positioning said leader on said splicing block assembly, a permanent vacuum chamber having an entrance disposed between said splicing block assembly and said selected loading position, and means for connecting said chamber with a vacuum source so as to create a suction force to draw a portion of the extracted leader into said vacuum chamber. 
     
     
       33. Apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the entrance of said vacuum chamber is positioned immediately adjacent to said splicing block assembly and said leader extractor means is arranged to dispose a portion of the withdrawn leader over and close to the entrance to said vacuum chamber.